Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland, is the perfect place if you want to have the ability to stay in one location, take trips out to see parts of the country, and then come back to check out some of the amazing restaurants and bars in the evening.
Luxury Holidays in Reykjavik
@ Reykjavik Excursions
@ Reykjavik Excursions
A word from our travel specialist
Reykjavík may be one of the world’s smallest capitals, but it packs a serious punch. Between its colourful rooftops and dramatic volcanic backdrops, you’ll find a city buzzing with creativity, from street art and live music to geothermal spas and cutting-edge Nordic cuisine.
Start your day with a dip in the iconic Blue Lagoon, wander past the striking silhouette of Hallgrímskirkja, and end it with fresh seafood and craft cocktails as the Northern Lights flicker overhead. It’s a place where glaciers and galleries go hand in hand, and where Arctic wild meets urban cool.
Lucy
Nordic Experience Curator
Inspiration for Holidays in Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland Family Adventure: Volcanoes, Glaciers and Geothermal Wonders
Discover Iceland's volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and hot springs on a luxury family adventure across the Land of Fire and Ice.
Iceland and Scandinavia Grand Discovery: Volcanoes, Fjords and Nordic Capitals
Discover Iceland and Scandinavia on a luxury journey featuring volcano tours, glacier hiking, Nordic cities, fjords and the Lofoten Islands.
South Iceland Super Jeeps and Snorkelling Adventure
A thrilling journey through South Iceland featuring the Golden Circle, ice caves, snorkelling, super jeep adventure, and unforgettable Northern Lights...
Panorama Glass Lodge in Iceland
Panorama Glass Lodge in Iceland allows you to get immersed in Iceland’s most dramatic landscape.
Icelandic Spa Retreat
Five-star hotels, private guided transfers, helicopter excursions, and some of the finest dining
Luxury Active Iceland
The perfect balance of activity and adventure, with luxury accommodation and your own private chef.
@ Iceland.is
Reykjavik, Designed Around You
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and perhaps where most of the action happens when it comes to hustle and bustle of restaurants, bars, cafes, and concert venues.
Despite being a small city there is plenty to keep you occupied – whether you might be opting to stay based there and travel out to see the sights or if you want to spend a couple of nights immersed in the city’s cultures before heading more off the beaten track.
Where to Stay: Handpicked for You
Reykjavík in Iceland offers a vibrant hotel scene, and we’ve picked out our favourites—from harbourfront suites to artist-owned boutique stays right in the city’s cultural core.
Hótel Geysir
Luxury hotel beside Iceland’s famous Geysir area offering geothermal landscapes, Northern Lights experiences and stylish stays.
Hótel Óðinsvé
Boutique hotel in central Reykjavik offering calm interiors, local dining and easy access to the city’s culture and historic streets.
Hotel Reykjavík Saga
Elegant city centre hotel in Reykjavik where modern design, wellness and cultural landmarks meet in a refined Icelandic setting.
Alda Hotel Reykjavik
Boutique urban retreat with easy access to Reykjavik’s culture, cuisine and city life
Hótel Lóa
Hótel Lóa offers modern style, warm hospitality and the South Coast’s natural wonders just outside your door.
Iceland Parliament Hotel
Modern elegance in the heart of Reykjavik, where history meets luxury. Steps from Parliament, culture, and Iceland’s vibrant life.The Guidebook
Explore Reykjavik
Despite feeling quite small there is a lot to discover in Reykjavik whether it is visiting the incredible architecture of the Harpa events centre (and perhaps catching a performance there), or Hallgrímskirkja
The city offers a wealth of fascinating places to eat and also has a huge choice of vegan restaurants too – then there are the cafes, bars, record shops, and music venues – there is always some music being performed somewhere here!
If you are aiming for a more relaxing city escape then you can discover the brand new Sky Lagoon or head to the local pools dotted around the city for a more authentic experience.
Getting There
There are many flights to and from Iceland all year round. International flights arrive at Keflavík International Airport, just to the south of the city. There are no railways in Iceland but the city centre does have bus services as well as taxis – it takes about forty minutes to travel from the airport to the city.
Climate
Despite its name, Iceland is not necessarily that cold. Winter temperatures are an average of 3.6°C, and summer temperatures average around 15°C. In the summertime, you can enjoy long, extended hours of sunshine and in the wintertime, the nights can get dark enough for you to see the Northern Lights as long as you are away from light pollution!
Geography
Iceland is world-famous for its geology and geography. With huge mountain ranges and an active geothermal country with many geysers, hot springs and volcanic formations to be found – it is a breath-taking landscape for those after an adventure.
Iceland offers some of the best waterfalls in Europe, such as the Dettifoss regarded as the most powerful waterfall in the whole of Europe.
With a latitude of 64° north, Reykjavik offers a perfect base from which to embark on a Northern Lights adventure.
Exceptional service throughout the entire planning and booking process – travel agencies don’t get any better than this. A brilliant, seamless experience matched by the holiday experience itself. Would recommend ‘Off the Map Travel’ to anyone considering booking for a Nordic experience ‘par excellence’.
Chris
We originally hired Off the Map Travel in 2020 to set up a trip to see the Northern Lights. That didn’t happen, thanks to COVID. But, we persisted and in March of 2023, we took a 16-day trip that included both Iceland and Norway. IT WAS MAGICAL! Off the Map took care of everything! We were pampered at every stage of our trip. The people they hired and the activities they planned added up to a trip that will set the standard for any we’ll ever take in the future. Alex and his team were fabulous! We recommend them without restraint!
Jim & Kris
My family and I traveled to Sweden to see The Northern Lights in March of 2023. From the planning process to every detail of the trip, I could not have been more pleased with our experience. Alex was exceptional to work with. His guidance on the time of year, where to stay, activities to do and how to get to and from everything was spot on. I have never used a tour company before but thought a trip of this kind would be easier with some help. I am so glad that I did. The entire week was seamless and completely stress-free, allowing us to truly enjoy Sweden and our time together as a family. I will be recommending Off The Map travel to friends and family and will certainly be using them myself again in the future.
Emily
Well-organized trip to Norway and Svalbard with great accommodations and activities. Gwen was communicative and responsive to requests. Highly recommend!
Russell Snook
Hello Lucy!! Kim and I had a fantastic time in Iceland! Probably one of my top 3 trips I’ve ever taken!
It was everything we asked for and you did a wonderful job coordinating it all so beautifully!!
Thank you very much and we will contact you again when we get ready to plan our trip to Norway and Lapland!
Doreen
Amy planned a fantastic trip! Everything was very well-thought out. All transfers went smoothly, accommodations were amazing, great restaurant recommendations and the tours were once-in-a-lifetime, can’t book it yourself off the internet experiences. The guides were all fantastic. Communications were prompt and everything worked exactly the way it was supposed to. What a pleasure! Already working on our next trip.
Anonymous
I used OTMT to organise a holiday to see the Northern Lights for my partner’s 50th birthday. They took the time to understand my priorities, the kinds of places we like to stay and the things we like to do. They recommended a fabulous itinerary in Norway centred around the Lyngen Experience Lodge. The holiday itself lived up to expectations and I have no hesitation in recommending OTMT. They listened carefully during the planning and delivered the perfect present for my partner.
Alex
We really enjoyed our Norwegian adventure despite the -22 days! Unfortunately no real experience of viewing the Lights but we did capture a couple of images on our last night – too much cloud otherwise so lots of snow. We really enjoyed the husky lodge – not at all what we had tentatively imagined. Thanks for your assistance, maybe next time we will see the Lights in all their glory.
Andrew
We did! Everything was truly wonderful! I think the Holman Husky Lodge was our favourite place. Beautiful accommodations, but best of all, wonderful people! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating, excellent food, we really enjoyed our time there. We also greatly enjoyed Bergen! Opus XVI was beautiful and we loved being able to walk to restaurants and bars and take in the sights. All of our drivers were punctual and friendly. The itinerary was full but not overfull.
Thank you so much! It was an epic trip, we are taking home wonderful memories!
Shelly
Off the Map Travel was great! Alex helped us plan the most amazing 10 day honeymoon to Iceland. He gave us great recommendations and was so patient with us during the planning process!
Tori
Arctic Retreat was simply magical. Graham and his team were superb. Their entire focus was on ensuring we had an outstanding experience. The accommodation, setting and food were all excellent. The team, experienced professionals, each brought their own personal touch and local nuance. It was faultless. The dog sledging trip directly from Arctic Retreat was also superb. We would return to Arctic Retreat in a heartbeat.
George
The ease of everything stood out to me. All we had to do was be there at the right time. The dog sledding was the highlight for my daughter and sister. We had the best time! For me, Manshausen was the highlight. We were very lucky and the only guests there for the majority of our stay. The staff was amazing and the food was so delicious. We had moose steak and it was the best meal I’ve ever had.
The cabins were comfortable and we were so lucky to have 2 clear nights where we just sat and watched the northern lights. We were able to get some awesome pictures too.
I appreciate all your time and care with planning our trip! I won’t hesitate to use Off the Map travel for our next adventure.
Kelly